Reserves v Inverness CT

Tuesday, 1st May 2007

Defeat in the Highlands

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE 3 DUNFERMLINE 0

Dunfermline travelled to the Caledonian Thistle Stadium for their last match in this season`s programme and were sent back down the A9 lamenting a 3-0 defeat. The Pars fielded only three of their recognised first team pool against a much more experienced Thistle and though the game started fairly low key, it was the visitors who first forced Ally Ridgers in the home goal to save from Calum Smith. That seventh minute chance coming after Smith linked up well with his striking partner Iain Williamson.

Not long had passed before Williamson played Smith through one on one with the keeper but again the 26 year old Caley keeper made a good save as the Pars striker drove into the box. Caley did win a few free kicks and corner kicks but the Pars defence was playing well.

Smith controlled and shot on the turn when Derek Howie fed him a 20th minute opportunity but the keeper saved. Two minutes later an Alan McDonough move down the right ended with a fine cross that earned a corner. When Nick Phinn`s cross was cleared only as far as the edge of the area, McDonough sent in a good shot that unluckily skimmed the wrong side of the crossbar.

Nothing had really bothered Greg Paterson in the Pars goal but in 31 minutes he had little chance as Ian BLACK pounced on the ball 30 yards out, no one closed the Inverness midfielder down and he rocketed the ball into the net from 25 yards.

Another Dunfermline corner was whipped over off the left foot of Scott Morrison, the ball to the far post was headed down after a goalmouth scramble the Highlanders were relieved to see the ball ricochet clear of their goal.

Paterson made a good save when a loose ball that rebounded off his defensive wall at a free kick was sent back in on target. Just as the first half came to a close, John McCulloch was pressurised by Gary McSWEGAN as he tried to defend a Zander Sutherland cross in from the right. The man of many clubs hooked the ball into the net to make it 2-0.

The visitors tried hard in the second period, played well with their best efforts coming from Smith in 48 minutes and Phinn on the hour. Possibly the Pars were a shade unlucky not to get back into the game and it just wasn`t their day as Caley notched a third seven minutes from time. Inverness caught the Pars out on the break with their substitute, Dale GILLESPIE poking the ball home from 12 yards.

Dunfermline paid for not taking their chances whereas Caley took three of theirs.  That is very much the story of the reserves season as they finished in 11th place with only Aberdeen below them.

INVERNESS CT: Alex Ridgers; Ross Tokely (Jake Inglis 75), Alex McDonald, Jamie Duff, Guy Kerr (Neil Gibb 75), Stuart Soane, Barry Wilson, Ian Black (Dale Gillespie 75), Gary Wood, Gary McSwegan, Zander Sutherland
SUBS NOT USED: John Calder
SCORERS: Black (31), McSwegan (45), Gillespie (83)

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Paterson; Calum Woods, John McCulloch, Neil Fenwick (Gary Leighton 87), Scott Morrison; Alan McDonough, Derek Howie, Stephen Simmons, Nick Phinn; Iain Williamson, Calum Smith
SUBS NOT USED: Clark Kay, Sean Muhsin, Kris Maxwell, Darren Stewart (GK)

REFEREE: Frank McDermott
WEATHER:
ATTENDANCE

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